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Western Deserts

The most rugged and remote area in Australia, the Western Deserts region covers a vast area of Western Australia. The last frontier where the challenges to the 4WDer are many but the rewards gained are even greater.
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 Description

The Western Deserts is a vast area of Western Australia, and the region covers parts of the Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert and the Great Sandy Desert. The population is sparse, the challenges many, and extensive preparation for 4WD travel in this region is essential. This is an area that is best travelled in the winter months due to extremely high temperatures through summer.

The area is rich with history and many people travel the major treks in this region to follow in the footsteps of some of the toughest explorers in the world. What the likes of Major Peter Warburton, Ernest Giles, William Gosse, John Forrest, David Carnegie and Alfred Canning (to name a few) must have had to endure travelling across the "Western Deserts" is hard to imagine. Thirst, hunger, fatigue, extreme cold and heat, and local hostility to name a few. Surveyors such as Len Beadell, who graded many of the tracks in later years, also found the going tough when asked to grade roads for nuclear and missile areas around WWII. Later still, rich ore and gold opportunities in the area were discovered and there is evidence of mining, past and present, as you travel the region.

This area offers many opportunities for the 4WDer, but be prepared for some challenges. Desert travelling means long distances between supply points and the need for carrying large quantities of water and fuel plus making arrangements for permits through Aboriginal land. The rewards that come with travelling this region are its absolute remoteness, the desert environment and its constantly changing landscape and following the path of history. There are also incredible rock formations, springs and gorges, fantastic station country, Aboriginal communities and rock art and the feeling of being miles from anywhere.

The deserts offer their fair share of wildlife - some rare and beautiful birds around rock holes and springs, lizards, kangaroos, emus and the occasional dingo family. If you're lucky enough to be in this region after recent rains, the deserts literally spring to life with magnificent everlastings and beautiful wildflowers.

 Western Deserts Weather & Climate

Closest Weather Station

Halls Creek at 14:30 20 Jul WST
Distance from Halls Creek 0.67km SW
TemperatureFeels LikeRel. HumidityDew PointPressureRainfallWind DirectionWind SpeedGusts
22.1°C 17.3°C 19% -2.5°C 1015.8hPa 0.0mm S 13km/h
7knots		 26km/h
14knots

Closest Climatic Station

Halls Creek Airport
Distance from Halls Creek 0.67km SW
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 36.735.735.433.8 30.027.327.230.0 34.037.238.437.9
Mean Min. °C 24.323.722.820.4 16.813.712.614.8 18.922.724.524.7
Mean Rain mm 153.2142.178.320.6 12.65.15.62.0 4.517.236.881.4

 Western Deserts Treks
Anne Beadell Highway
An inland alternative to travelling the Nullarbor, the Anne Beadell trek offers remoteness, isolation and unique vegetation and wildlife.
Canning Stock Route
The Canning Stock Route is a long-distance remote stretch of track through the Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts. No longer in use as a stock route this is now a vehicular track allowing access to the wells constructed as stock watering holes. [Feature Story]
Connie Sue Hwy
Named after the daughter of Len and Anne Beadell, the very remote Connie Sue Highway runs over 650kms from the railway town of Rawlinna to the Aboriginal community of Warburton.
David Carnegie Road
The David Carnegie Rd is a little travelled track between the Great Central Rd and the Gunbarrel Hwy. It is a spectacular piece of country with rocky outcrops, spinifex plains and breakaways and in parts challenging 4WDing with deep ruts and washaways.
Eagle Hwy
The Eagle Hwy is a very isolated track in the Gibson Desert. At the northern end it can take you to the Gary Highway or the Talawanna Track and the southern end finishes at the Gunbarrel Hwy
Goldfields Loop
Go back to the turbulent days when new towns sprouted soon after a gold find only to turn to ruins after the gold dried up. The trek paints the picture of the gold rush days in WA, the jubilance and hardships faced and the towns that survived.
Great Central Road
The Great Central Road is the main thoroughfare through Central Australia and links WA to NT. It is widely used by buses, trucks, 4WD and occassionally 2WD vehicles.
Gunbarrel Highway
The Gunbarrel Hwy is one of Australia's most famous roads being the first of many desert tracks built by surveyor Len Beadell. Today, this track remains isolated and remote - for experienced desert travellers only.
Hunt Oil Road
This remote trek links the Gunbarrel Hwy with the Great Central Road. It passes via Mount Worsnop and past the Hunt Oil road camps and drilling sites.
Puntawarri Track
The Puntawarri Track is an east-west track situated between Jigalong and the Canning Stock Route (CSR). The track joins the CSR at Canning’s Cairn in the Durba Hills.
West Great Victoria Desert
This trek covers the western section of the Great Victoria Desert and is definately 4WD country. If you take this route you will follow in the footsteps of explorers Frank Hann, The Elder Expedition and Len Beadell.

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 Related Pages
Western Australia
Western Australia, the largest state, comprises 2.5 million sq km. With a population of 1.8 million it is the 4th most populated state in Australia. 40% of the state is located within the tropical zone - the rest is in the temperate zone where the capital city Perth is located. WA is 8 hours ahead of GMT.
Western Deserts Road Conditions
Road conditions information for: Anne Beadell Highway, Canning Stock Route, Connie Sue Highway, Gary Junction, Goldfields Highway, Great Central Road, Gunbarrel Highway, Heather Highway, Kalgoorlie/Goldfields/Mid West, Kidson Track/Wapet Road, Murchison, Rudall River NP, Sandy Blight Rd, Talawana Track, Trans Continental Railway Service Access Track [Feature Story]

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